Nature India | Indigenus

What else do you want?

Before we launched Nature India, we sought suggestions from our potential readers on what exactly they would like to read in a science portal dedicated to India. Suggestions came pouring. Throughout last year we have endeavoured to meet most expectations of our readers. We also got a lot of replies when we asked you which regions we should consider for our spotlight issues.

Before I sit down with an NPG team for an annual review of the website, it is time again for me to ask you all — our regular and dedicated readers — how your journey with Nature India over the last one year has been (we launched in February 2008 and it is more than an year already!). What more would they like to read about? What should we be covering that we haven’t? Are there any scientists/institutes that we must profile? Who else should we commission to write commentaries/opinion articles? Which are the broader interest issues that we have left untouched? Which issues/regions should we highlight in our special features?

I am happy to share the success of our jobs and events sections, which have greatly benefitted many potential recruiters and job seekers. We would like to know if any of you have had a personal success story to share. Would you like any changes in these sections to make them more effective?

I couldn’t have asked for a more throbbing ‘forum’. It is one of the most popular sections of the website and I am extremely happy many of you have found life long friends and mentors there.

Do write in with all your inputs. We are open to ideas as many of you might have experienced during your interaction with us. A lot of reader inputs have shaped and reshaped the look and feel of the website over the last year. We won’t hesitate to consider a bright idea if it makes scientific sense.

Happy reading!

Comments

  1. Report this comment

    Anonymous said:

    Dear Subhra,

    First my heartiest congratulations to you and team ‘Nature India’ on all your achievements. Undoubtedly, it has come a long and fruitful way, and touched east-to-west of Indian science. I am a regular visitor and have specially enjoyed the true-bitter-canny inside stories – and the comments too – though scarce. This brings me back to the low penetration of this site! So, I would strongly suggest developing a marketing division, which would take this site to new heights. It is the Ph.D. students, post-docs and young scientists of India who have to read and write the first hand experience, so the ‘decision-makers’ can be more reasonable. I really expect this site to help students and young researchers for better scientific future – which I believe is strongly shared by the ‘Nature India’ team.

    As for some suggestions on new topics, CSIR has just appointed 10-12 new directors for its premier Institutes. It would be great to know their brief biodata, what their plans and priorities for the Institute are, how they plan to boost scientific output in tune with 100% increase in funding and 50% increment in salaries and would there be any new goals or targets set. Hope this brings fresh perspective and mentoring to the Institutes and more hopes to the new science recruits.

    Best regards,

    KH

  2. Report this comment

    Biplab Das said:

    Dear Subhra,

    It is heartening that ‘Nature India’ has successfully completed one year since its official launch last year February. We do see readers’ discussions on Nature India’s blog. Some of them are very encouraging. Yet, ‘Nature India’ hardly knows what readers think about the articles published. It will be a very good idea to run a readers’ comment option with every article published. This interface between writers and readers will benefit ‘Nature India’. Readers will also have a space to scribble something thought-provoking.

  3. Report this comment

    Pradeepkumar.A.P. said:

    Dear Subhra,

    Nature India gives me some solace as a geologist. I see geology given some space, unlike in the policies of our S&T departments. None of our new-spangled IITs or IISERs have a geology faculty. After nearly a century of existence IISc came up with a Centre for Earth Science which could possibly qualify for plagiarism: it has borrowed the name from Centre for Earth Science Studies as well as drawn a few scientists over from the original CESS.

    Still I would like to hear more about the government policies about geology/earth science learning and teaching. Is it going to be given the short-shrift forever? Doesn’t it matter? What’s the real agenda of Dept of Earth Science?

    Nature India and your blog will possibly discuss these issues… and get some statistics out on the position of geology (not at the expense of other sciences!).

    Happy Birthday! Keep going.

  4. Report this comment

    Bharath Chandran said:

    Dear Subhra,

    First, congratulations are in order for the wonderful work being done by you and your team to highlight Indian science. However, a few suggestions for possible additions:

    1) As pointed out earlier, it would be worthwhile to have a regular section to profile a particular institute (its director, faculty, research focus, plans for the current and future etc.)

    2) As a way of encouraging talent, similar to the postdoc journal in Nature, you could invite Indian postdocs/early career researchers to journal their thoughts and career developments. This not only provides a platform for young researchers to develop their career, but would also motivate younger students about the research in Indian institutes and opportunities/working conditions.

    Regards

    Bharath

  5. Report this comment

    Education in India said:

    Dear Subhra,

    Hi. I would like to hear more about government policies on geology/earth sciences learning and teaching. Is it going to be given the short-shrift forever? Doesn’t it matter? What’s the real agenda of the Dept of Earth Science?

    I have a useful website which I wish to share with those wanting more information about entrance exams in India and latest educational opportunities: ">https://chalocampus.com> Higher Education in India .

    Thanks.

    Anj